Dwight Howard Saga

[Dr. Gymbo]

I really hope Dwight gets a career ending injury, unless he comes to Cleveland of course. Since there is less than a 1% chance of him coming to Cleveland I hope he gets a career ending injury. I'm sick and tired of the inmates having the control, and it would only be fitting if he lost a leg.

Isn't it a bit hypocritical to say you hate that "the inmates have control" and that you wished he'd suffer a career-ending injury UNLESS he came to your favorite team? Let's be serious here, I doubt a lot of people in Cleveland would be upset if LBJ stayed and Howard was flirting with Cleveland like he has been with New Jersey and Los Angeles.

Take a stance and stick with it one way or the other.

[Mdog1]

Isn't it a bit hypocritical to say you hate that "the inmates have control" and that you wished he'd suffer a career-ending injury UNLESS he came to your favorite team? Let's be serious here, I doubt a lot of people in Cleveland would be upset if LBJ stayed and Howard was flirting with Cleveland like he has been with New Jersey and Los Angeles.

Take a stance and stick with it one way or the other.

I am perfectly fine with being hypocritical if it means my favourite team has a better chance at a championship. Quite frankly F every other team, I would take a championship if the other 29 teams planes all crashed some time and the Cavs starters played the Cavs bench in the finals and we won I would still celebrate.

[Chris]

I am perfectly fine with being hypocritical if it means my favourite team has a better chance at a championship. Quite frankly F every other team, I would take a championship if the other 29 teams planes all crashed some time and the Cavs starters played the Cavs bench in the finals and we won I would still celebrate.

That's going a little too far but I get your point and agree with it.

[Powerslave]

I don't get the LA/Jersey Shore/Dallas thing. LA and Dallas are old and falling off and the Nets need a lot more than D.Will to attract free agents. Just don't understand why this bitch doesn't go to Chicago, as long as they don't give up too much him and D.Rose is a dynasty for at least 5 prime years.

Ah who gives a fuck, let this mentally weak attention whore whittle his career away in some "bright lights" while falling awfully short of expectations.

[chrisrich91]

I believe we have a solid pitch if Dwight is willing to listen.

First, Dwight is an outgoing personality. He would certainly love to play in a major market, but we have something going for us that other smaller markets do not: a proven, hungry fan base. Dwight saw this during their games against us in the playoffs. He saw what happened to our city with LBJ left. He knows he could be that person to lift us back up again (outside of Kyrie, which brings me to my second point...)

Second, we have Kyrie Irving. Dwight played some of his best ball when Jameer Nelson could actually play. When he was balling, I see similarities to what Kyrie brings. However, Kyrie is on a much higher level, and has already established himself as a winner. It would take a bit of a sales pitch to convince him, but there is something there.

Hurting this is the fact that Dwight wants to win a championship, and he will likely choose the path of least resistance (at least in his mind and what his agents/advisers are telling him). In the end, I believe we have an intriguing pitch, and will be something that Dwight should at least consider....maybe....get it done Grant.

I've been saying this for a while...completely agree. Besides our young talent and awesome coach, add into the equation a top 10 pick this year and we'd be pretty appealing to anyone really looking to sign with a team with a bright future. Unfortunately that's not where Dwight's head is, and that sucks.

[Cratylus]

I believe we have a solid pitch if Dwight is willing to listen.

First, Dwight is an outgoing personality. He would certainly love to play in a major market, but we have something going for us that other smaller markets do not: a proven, hungry fan base. Dwight saw this during their games against us in the playoffs. He saw what happened to our city with LBJ left. He knows he could be that person to lift us back up again (outside of Kyrie, which brings me to my second point...)

Second, we have Kyrie Irving. Dwight played some of his best ball when Jameer Nelson could actually play. When he was balling, I see similarities to what Kyrie brings. However, Kyrie is on a much higher level, and has already established himself as a winner. It would take a bit of a sales pitch to convince him, but there is something there.

Hurting this is the fact that Dwight wants to win a championship, and he will likely choose the path of least resistance (at least in his mind and what his agents/advisers are telling him). In the end, I believe we have an intriguing pitch, and will be something that Dwight should at least consider....maybe....get it done Grant.

[Lottery God]

I believe we have a solid pitch if Dwight is willing to listen.

First, Dwight is an outgoing personality. He would certainly love to play in a major market, but we have something going for us that other smaller markets do not: a proven, hungry fan base. Dwight saw this during their games against us in the playoffs. He saw what happened to our city with LBJ left. He knows he could be that person to lift us back up again (outside of Kyrie, which brings me to my second point...)

Second, we have Kyrie Irving. Dwight played some of his best ball when Jameer Nelson could actually play. When he was balling, I see similarities to what Kyrie brings. However, Kyrie is on a much higher level, and has already established himself as a winner. It would take a bit of a sales pitch to convince him, but there is something there.

Hurting this is the fact that Dwight wants to win a championship, and he will likely choose the path of least resistance (at least in his mind and what his agents/advisers are telling him). In the end, I believe we have an intriguing pitch, and will be something that Dwight should at least consider....maybe....get it done Grant.

It's a long shot, but, if we got him on board, we'd have Kyrie, Tristan, Dwight, and a few new rookies (possible future all-star(s) in that bunch) coming in as our core. Don't forget that we'd still have some cap space left over to sign other players as well, and I can imagine that Dwight's commitment to this team would encourage other big-time free agents to come to this team as well. If Dwight actually joined this team, I wouldn't be surprised if LeBron joined the team in 2014 at whatever cost.

That reminds me. We absolutely need to get an all-star or two who can stretch the floor from the 2012 draft. Barnes, Beal, Lamb, Rivers would be top choices for that. I'd imagine that at least one of those shooting guards can be had in the late lottery, so, if we make some trades, it'd be possible to grab Barnes (or MKG if we have to) and one of the guards.

Not to mention that, if Dwight left Orlando, our 2013 and 2014 2nd rounders from them would suddenly be very early 2nd rounders in the 31-35 range.

Who else is going to have a large amount of cap space? Suns?

[ChicagoCavFan]

I wouldn't be surprised if LeBron joined the team in 2014

Stealing a page from Cratylus' book:

[tristan+kyrie=$]

If Dwight were to sign with Cleveland which won't happen.....ESPN would have a hour show making fun of his decision and talking crap on Cleveland and why would he ever go their

[ChicagoCavFan]

If Dwight were to sign with Cleveland which won't happen.....ESPN would have a hour show making fun of his decision and talking crap on Cleveland and why would he ever go their

Again

[jlegg21]

Dwight could be the most physically gifted 7 footer ever, but the guy is a big goof. No mental maturity whatsoever. Guys like Shaq and Hakeem tried to destroy you and rip your soul out on the court. Dwight plays hard maybe 3 times a month, which is why I question whether he'll ever win a title. Even paired with DWill, he'll probably need 2-3 more teammates who are killers to win the big one. Plus he's a nightmare to coach.

And you all can stop with the 'maybe he'll come to Cleveland' talk. Just stop.

[bigjmac0815]

Two different rumors from www.orlandopinstripedpost.com Website's legit they announced the Arenas trade last year before the media got it.

Otis Smith will agressively pursuit Steve Nash before the deadline.

Newest Howard to Lakers rumor. Howard/Turk/Nelson to Lakers, Calderon/Gasol/Buynum to Orlando. Dont know what's being sent to Toronto, could only imagine exception and picks

[MDLT]

Dwight Howard is not coming here no matter who we have on our team. He's thing about big market so be can get more endorsement deals.

Exactly. He's more interesting in endorsements and entertainment deals than anything else.

[KI4MVP]

That extra year doesn't really mean much in the grand scheme of things because it is not like he won't get it on the next contract.

If anything, He would rather hit the free agent market again at 31 than 32 as he would probably be able to get another max deal anyway.

It says the difference in the first 4 years is only $5 million, which is not enough to keep these guys from walking away.

They needed to give home teams a real advantage when negotiating, not just that one year. It should have been like 3 extra years, making it too good to pass up. 1 year they will get anyway just isn't enough to deter these guys when the difference between staying and leaving is only a few million bucks a year.

The 5th year is guaranteed salary against injury. Not many people are going to leave $30 million guaranteed on the table. LeBron, Bosh, Amare - they all got their extra year guaranteed through sign and trades. Amare didn't even give up any salary.

I don't think LeBron makes any more endorsement revenue since leaving than he made while he was here. One thing is pretty certain, Howard isn't going to the Lakers as a free agent for the MLE. They'd have to dump Bynum and Gasol to free enough cap space to sign him to a max deal.

[Believeland-OH]

Magic To 'Aggressively' Pursue Trade For Nash
Feb 27, 2012 10:36 AM EST

Otis Smith intends to "aggressively" pursue a trade for Steve Nash, according to multiple sources.

Nash is in the final season of his contract with the Suns, while Orlando is attempting to make a last ditch effort to improve their roster to keep Dwight Howard.

Via Jarrod Rudolph/RealGM

I think Steve Nash would make Orlando and interesting team with Dwight and the perimeter shooters they already have.